Roads End Naturalist

Exploring the natural world as we wander at the end of the road


Tag: tundra swan

  • Pungo Reflections – Water

    Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson Due to a crazy schedule at home this month, my last refuge tour of this winter waterfowl season was the first weekend of February. I had a great group of three clients that all had experience with our national wildlife Read more…

  • Ice Capades

    Ice is an interesting subject for contemplation. ~Henry David Thoreau Weather changes quickly this time of year. When venturing out, we need to be prepared. Imagine if you live out in it all winter. While snow is relatively rare in our eastern wildlife refuges, ice is common. A sudden drop in temperature on a still Read more…

  • Season of the Swan

    …this harsh sound softened and modulated by distance, and issuing from the immense void above, assumes a supernatural character of tone and impression, that excites, the first time heard, a strangely peculiar feeling. ~Dr. Sharpless, 1844, on the sound made by Tundra Swans during flight It is a magical sound, that first haunting note of Read more…

  • Trip Report – a Frozen Mattamuskeet and Pungo

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    To me, the beautiful and ever-changing patterns formed in lake ice – and in snowflakes, the ice of the sky – are winter’s “bloom,” corresponding to the flowering plants of summer. ~Stephen Hatch I had another trip to North Carolina’s winter wonderland this past weekend. And a wonderland it was…Lake Mattamuskeet was largely frozen, a Read more…

  • The Black and White of Pungo

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    To see in color is a delight for the eye but to see in black and white is a delight for the soul. ~Andri Cauldwell Last Wednesday, I headed to the Pungo Unit of Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge to scout the area for an outing later that week. I’ll report on the outing in Read more…